ZUS Coffee took the same test — and got the same result.
Thrown into the same matchup that never made it to the record books, the Thunderbelles once again triumphed over Akari.
This time, they took in a thrilling five-set reverse sweep, 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-12, 15-7, to cap a perfect first-round campaign in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Their supposed first win of the tournament was erased due to delays in the International Transfer Certificates of their imports. But ZUS Coffee made sure to get it back — and made it count — completing a stunning comeback to finish atop Pool B with a spotless 5-0 record.
“Five-zero start, wala eh. Nag-aadjust lang din tayo kung anong ibibigay ng kalaban, kukunin natin. So ayun, swerte kami this game kasi nakapag-adjust and then nakuha namin,” said Thunderbelles head coach Jerry Yee.
“Adjust-adjust lang, execute lang tayo ng mga basic plays so ayun nakuha,” he added.
(C) PVL Images
ZUS Coffee found itself in a deep 0-2 hole against a determined Akari squad — but good thing American import Anna DeBeer brought the ladder, helping the Thunderbelles climb out and turn the match around.
DeBeer erupted for a game-high 33 points and added 12 excellent receptions, willing her team to a stirring two-hour comeback win.
After a dominant fourth-set showing that forced a decider, the University of Louisville product came out swinging in the fifth. She delivered back-to-back emphatic cross-court hits that sparked ZUS Coffee’s 8-1 start.
The Chargers tried to rally but couldn’t sustain their rhythm, as the Thunderbelles rode their momentum all the way to the finish line.
“Definitely, it was hard sitting out the first one, so just being able to play and have such a cool environment here was really fun,” said DeBeer, who missed their earlier unrecorded win over the same team due to the ITC issue.
Veteran opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga contributed an all-around performance of 11 points, 13 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions. Rookie middle blocker Riza Nogales provided instant impact off the bench with 11 points, including four kill blocks.
Chinnie Arroyo also delivered 10 points in a reserve role, while AC Miner added seven, including key conversions during ZUS Coffee’s blistering fifth-set start.
Setter Cloanne Mondoñedo steered the offense with 27 excellent sets on top of four points, as libero Alyssa Eroa anchored the floor defense with 20 excellent digs.
(C) PVL Images
Akari, meanwhile, fell to a 3-2 record but still advanced to Pool C alongside the Thunderbelles and defending champion Creamline. There, they will face the bottom three squads from Pool A.
The Chargers came out strong in the opening two frames but struggled to sustain their momentum, ultimately undone by 32 costly errors.
Annie Michem led Akari with 27 points built on 25 attacks and two kill blocks, along with 17 excellent receptions. Eli Soyud added 15 markers.
Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo chipped in 11 apiece, with Soltones also tallying 19 excellent receptions and nine digs.
